| Soldier Accused of Rape Attempt in Mon State Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:47 AM PST  Burmese armed forces soldiers on parade. (Photo: The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — A Burma Army soldier based in Mon State's Thanbyuzayat Township allegedly beat and attempted to rape an ethnic Mon woman on Saturday night, according to local Mon leaders, who said that the hospitalized victim had filed a lawsuit against the soldier. The 43-year-old victim was attacked by a soldier of Artillery Battalion 315, which is based in Yaw Tha Yar village in Thanbyuzayat Township, according to Kyae Kyae Nyi, a member of the Mon Democracy Party, and Nai Ong Ma-nge, a central committee member of the New Mon State Party. They said the woman, a mother of seven, was tapping rubber late at night when a soldier beat her as he tried to rape her, adding that about an hour she was able to finally flee. A village head later found the identity card of the soldier at the site and went to Battalion 315's commanders, who told him that they would provide free medical care to the victim if she refrained from filing a complaint with the police, the Mon leaders said. The victim was brought to Thanbyuzayat Township Hospital but was so badly injured that she had to be transferred to a hospital in the Mon State capital Moulmein, where many local community leaders visited her to offer support. "Firstly, she told us that she worried too much about her family's security to sue the perpetrator. But finally she agreed to bring this case to the court," said Kyae Kyae Nyi. She said local leaders had arranged a lawyer for the victim and on Wednesday she filed a complaint with Thanbyuzayat Township police. "It is important to bring this case to court because many of our Mon people are afraid of the army and did not dare to do it. We brought in a lawyer for her already," said Nai Ong-Ma-nge. Recently, on Dec. 24, a soldier of Infantry Battalion 31, based in Mon State's Ye Township, allegedly tied up and raped a 13-year-old girl. The Burma Army's Southeast Regional Command launched an investigation into the case and the soldier has reportedly been detained at his barracks, Mon leaders said on Jan. 15. The Mon Women's Organization and the Human Rights Foundation of Monland, however, raised concerns over the case, saying they feared that the soldier would escape criminal punishment. In cases where soldiers are accused of crimes, including rape, it is common for the Burma Army to apply its own disciplinary processes, which are opaque and deliver lenient punishments. Despite political reforms and ceasefires with most major rebel groups, the army remains a heavy presence in southern Mon State, where the New Mon State Party until recently fought a low-level insurgency. Local Mon rights groups said the military had failed to change its practices and reports of sexual abuse continue in areas where troops are stationed to secure new development projects in the resource-rich state. In mid-January, the Thailand-based Women's League of Burma issued a report accusing the Burmese military of using rape as a weapon in the country's various ethnic conflict zones. The report, bringing together information for a number of women's groups based in ethnic areas, said it had found more than 100 cases of women and girls being raped by soldiers since 2010. The post Soldier Accused of Rape Attempt in Mon State appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Burma’s Social Security Enrollees to See Benefits Boosted by April Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:42 AM PST  A woman and her newborn baby are pictured in at the Muslim Charity Hospital in Rangoon on Nov. 1, 2013. (Photo: Reuters / Soe Zeya Tun) RANGOON — Burmese workers registered under the country's social security scheme will begin seeing the benefits of more generous social protections from April of this year, according to the program's director general. Yu Lwin Aung, who heads the national Social Security Board, said implementation of the revamped Social Security Law, which was passed by Parliament in 2012, would begin in April, though full realization of the legislation's promised benefits would be rolled out gradually. Under the 2012 Social Security Law, cash benefits for illness are set to rise from 50 percent of a worker's salary to 60 percent, and maternity and confinement payouts will increase to 70 percent, from 66.67 percent currently. Money for funeral arrangements will be increased to one to five times a worker's salary, from the flat-rate 40,000 kyats presently provided. Funding of medical treatment for employment-related injuries will rise to 70 percent from 66.67 percent, and the program's survivors' benefit fund will entitle enrollees to anywhere from 30 to 80 times the deceased's salary, depending on the length of time enrolled. The survivor's benefit fund under the old law offered just 66.67 percent of salary in total payout. Retirement benefits under the new scheme will also see a boost. "I hope the new law can raise public reliance upon the social security system by providing benefits that are commensurate with the realities, and so that the lives of workers will be more secure," he said. Of the country's total population, only about 1 percent—some 600,000 workers—are registered under the social security system, Yu Lwin Aung said, blaming the low proportion of enrollees on the scant benefits provided under the previous social security framework, laid out in a law passed in 1954. Ye Naing Win, a labor representative from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security's Arbitration Council, said there were many provisions prescribed in the Social Security Law of 1954 that were not currently being honored because funding for the scheme fell short of what was required to pay out enrollees in full. He said the medical benefits of the new Social Security Law would be more far-reaching and convenient because insured workers would be eligible for treatment at private hospitals partnered with the social security system, in addition to the mere three "workers hospitals" that currently exist nationwide. "It will be difficult to apply all [benefits provisions] at the same time in April because there is not enough funding for all workers in the country," Ye Naing Win said, adding that the new benefits slated for April, including major social safety net protections such as work injury-related compensation, and payments for maternity and sick leave, meant the phased roll-out was "not so bad." "We have been issuing 'smart' social security registration cards to insured workers since July 2013 to apply to the new social security law," which he said would help to better compile long-term data on the beneficiaries of a program that is expected to grow. "We have already issued them to around 300,000 workers." The post Burma's Social Security Enrollees to See Benefits Boosted by April appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| A Waiting Game for Burma’s Business Community in 2014 Posted: 29 Jan 2014 04:37 AM PST  Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — Experts are predicting that 2014 will be a year of waiting for the Burmese business community, as the country's uncertain political situation continues to put a dampener on both local and overseas investment. President Thein Sein said this week he expects the country's economy to grow by 9.1 percent this year, and the country has been touted as an enticing destination for investment since a nominally civilian government took power in 2011 and embraced free market-oriented reforms. National Planning and Economic Development Minister Kan Zaw was quoted in the state-owned The Mirror newspaper on Wednesday taking a positive view of Burma's foreign direct investment (FDI) outlook during a development conference in Naypyidaw. According to the report, Kan Zaw highlighted growing investment from China and Thailand, and said the garment cutting, manufacturing and packing sector was doing well as a result of low wages and cheap production costs. FDI has been growing since economic reforms began and Western countries dropped or suspended sanctions against Burma. According to the most recent figures available, the first six months of the 2013-14 fiscal year—beginning April 1—saw the government approve projects worth more than US$1.8 billion. That compares with just $1.4 billion of FDI for the whole of the 2012-13 fiscal year. But observers say many more potential investors are still taking a cautious approach given the uncertainties around investing in Burma. All hinges on the outcome of the 2015 elections, which could have a significant impact on whether the international community continues to embrace Burma. Myat Thin Aung, chairman of Rangoon's Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone, insisted that the current political situation—especially the uncertainty over whether the 2008 Constitution will be amended to allow opposition leader Aung san Suu Kyi to become president—is a major concern of foreign firms looking to bring heavy industry investment into the country. "Foreign investment is coming, but in the garment industry only, not to heavy industry. People know that the government doesn't take much tax from the factory owners in the garment industry. But in heavy industry, investors are waiting until next year's election to see whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can be elected or not," he said. Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone is the biggest such zone in Rangoon, and has 861 factories, mostly producing garments and largely with investment coming from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. "Most foreign investors say that 2015 election is important for them as they are looking out for the next government's economic policy," he said. Myat Thin Aung said heavy industry investment was required to for economy to grow sustainably, as it involved longer-term investment that the garment sector. Ye Min Oo, managing director of Burmese tycoon Tay Za's Asian Green Development Bank agreed that 2014 will be about waiting. "I expect that if many foreign investors are coming in this year, it means they don't care about the Burma political situation. They will work with any government in 2016," he said. In sectors like banking, foreign investors must wait for legislative changes to allow them to enter. At present, foreign banks may only open representative offices, which many have done in expectation that they will be allowed a greater presence in the future. And with the election expected in November 2015, it will not be until 2016 that potential investors are certain about the long-term future of Burmese economic policy. "Even if the new government changes in 2015 after the election, foreign direct investment might wait until the end of 2016 to see its new economic policy," said Ye Min Oo. Maw Than, a retired economics professor and an advisor to the President Thein Sein, insisted that despite the risks, companies are moving into the country. "We see such foreign investors believing recent government policy, and they can keep investing next year. But its right that economic grow depends on political stability, and some might also wait and see next government's policy," he said, adding that those who take the plunge early will see greater rewards. The post A Waiting Game for Burma's Business Community in 2014 appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Burma’s Ethnic Armed Groups Share Ceasefire Draft With Govt Negotiator Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:43 AM PST  Minister Aung Min (center), the Burmese government's chief peace negotiator, and MPC adviser Hla Maung Shwe (left) met with representatives of Burma's ethnic armed groups on Wednesday in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Photo: Lin Thant / Irrawaddy) CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Three days after Burma's ethnic armed groups concluded a conference in a rebel-controlled area of Karen State, ethnic leaders met with the government's chief negotiator, Minister Aung Min, on Wednesday. At the meeting, held in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, the ethnic groups' National Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT)—which is representing 16 ethnic armed group's in negotiations with the government—shared with Aung Min a draft of the awaited national ceasefire agreement. While most of Burma's armed groups have signed individual ceasefire agreements with the Burma government in recent years, Naypyidaw is pushing to have a single nationwide agreement signed by all groups. The next round of high-level talks on the matter, which have been delayed twice by ethnic groups, are set for Feb. 20 in the Karen State capital of Hpa-An. Aung Min told The Irrawaddy that 16 of the ethnic groups had put together a new draft for the agreement during a meeting last week at Law Khee Lar, also known as Lay Wah, a base in an area near the Burmese-Thai border held by the Karen National Union (KNU). "The peace team is here to receive the ethnic groups' draft ceasefire agreement and listen to their explanations on each section of the draft," he said. The leaders will have another similar meeting in mid-February in Rangoon, ahead of the Hpa-an talks, ethnic leaders said. Hla Maung Shwe, a special adviser to the government-affiliated Myanmar Peace Center, said that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be invited to the Hpa-an peace talks, and that she was likely to attend. The Hpa-an meeting was originally scheduled for December, but has twice been postponed. Pado Kwe Htoo Win, the secretary of the KNU, said the postponement is "for good and it is not a bad sign. "We have many different ethnic armed groups and every issue in the draft needs to be discussed widely." "It is a productive discussion towards our draft ceasefire agreement," he said. In Hpa-an, the government and ethnic leaders will set a date for a landmark nationwide ceasefire accord, which will be signed in Naypyidaw, according to Aung Min. But there is speculation about whether the nationwide ceasefire and political dialogue will go ahead as soon as the government is hoping, since some of the ethnic groups—the ethnic Palaung militia, the Wa and the Restoration Council of Shan State, for instance—are not fully participating in the process. But Aung Min insisted that the peace process is "ongoing," and that mutual understanding is being built in the discussions. "It is a development that they [ethnic leaders] agreed to sign the ceasefire first, and then move towards to the political dialogue, in their Lay Wah meeting," said Aung Min. Half of the NCCT's 16 members attended the Wednesday meeting in Chiang Mai. The new draft has 11 sections and is about 28 pages long, but there are still disagreements over the wording of the draft. In particular, there is a debate over whether to use the term "revolution" to refer to armed groups, as a way of recognizing the political nature of their struggle. Nai Hong Sar, the head of the NCCT, said, "We want to make clear the usage of the word, we want the word 'revolution' instead of just 'armed groups,' which could create a confusion between the ethnic armed group fighting for autonomy and some drug dealers who also hold guns." A previous point of disagreement was the demand for a federal army, but it was agreed that the issue would be discussed during political dialogue that will take place following a ceasefire agreement. Aung Min said the government was trying to bring the armed groups currently outside of discussions into the fold. "We will have more individual talks with the Palaung [the Ta-ang National Liberation Army]. We would have no restrictions for the remaining ethnic groups. We will try to make them part of the political dialogue, as we aim to be inclusive in the process." When asked about his view on the ethnic Wa—the most heavily armed group in the country—not being present at the ceasefire talks, U Aung Min said, "We have asked them to attend the meetings before." "They replied to us that there is no need for them to have talks for the ceasefire as there is no engagement between Wa and the government troops. They were fighting under the [now defunct] Burmese Communist Party. "But I am sure that they will attend to the political dialogue meeting, when they do, they will raise issues concerning their people and own state. Based on their demands, we will see what we can agree on." Those demands reportedly include that the area currently controlled by the Wa as a "special region" be recognized as a state within the Burmese union. The NCCT leaders plan to talk to the Wa before they meet again in Hpa-an for the second ceasefire talks with the government. The post Burma's Ethnic Armed Groups Share Ceasefire Draft With Govt Negotiator appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Blaze Destroys 16 Homes at Site of Alleged Rohingya Killings Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:36 AM PST  A photo of the fire in Du Chee Yar Tan village was distributed by the Ministry of Information. (Photo: MoIWebPortalMyanmar/Facebook) RANGOON — A fire on Tuesday night destroyed 16 homes in Du Chee Yar Tan village, the site of the alleged killing of dozens of Rohingyas two weeks ago. An Arakan State government official claimed that the Muslim villagers could have started the fire and "burned their own homes." The fire broke out in the western part of Du Chee Yar Tan Village Tract in southern Maungdaw Township in Arakan State and destroyed 16 homes, some of which were deserted, according to Aung Zaw Min, a state legislative MP with the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Aung Zaw Min, who represents Maungdaw Township, said he inspected the site of the fire on Wednesday morning together with state officials. He said he spoke with some of the affected villagers, who claimed that they saw a group of people set fire to several houses at around 9 pm. "They told us that they did not know who are in this group but … they came to burn their houses. The group numbers about 10 people," Aung Zaw Min said. No one was injured or killed in the blaze and state authorities had provided rice and cooking pots for the victims. Photos of the fire posted on the Information Ministry's Facebook page showed bamboo and thatched-roofed houses being destroyed, while a fire truck was deployed to put down the blaze. Another part of the village tract of Du Chee Yar Tan, which is home to several thousand Rohingyas, was the site of an alleged massacre two weeks ago. According to a human rights group and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, at least 48 Rohingyas were killed by police and Arakan Buddhist mob on Jan. 9-13. Most of the victims reportedly died in an apparent retaliation for the disappearance of a police officer, who was supposedly attacked by Muslim villagers. The central government and state authorities have vehemently denied reports of the killings and insist that only the policeman has gone missing. Burmese officials subsequently lashed out at reports and statements by international aid agencies, media organizations and even the US and UK governments, saying that the incident was "an internal matter." On Tuesday, they rejected US calls for the involvement of international officials in an investigation into the incident. In an interview with state-run MRTV on Tuesday night, Arakan State spokesperson Win Myaing confirmed that 16 homes had been destroyed by a blaze in Du Chee Yar Tan village. He referred to local Muslim villagers as 'Bengalis' and said they might be responsible for starting the fire. "While we were trying to stop the fire spreading from one house to another house… we found five Bengalis. They did not help stop the fire, but just ran away," he said. "They could be the people who started the fire. It seems to us that they burned their own houses." Win Myaing added that Arakanese Buddhist villagers could not be responsible for starting the fire because "the nearest Rakhine village is too far away." Aung Zaw Min, the local MP, doubted that local villagers had caused the fire. "It seems unlikely that they would burn down their own houses because they are very poor. They don't even have enough food to eat," he said. Since mid-2012, Arakan State in western Burma has been torn apart by recurrent outbursts of inter-communal violence between Rohingya Muslims and Arakanese Buddhists that have killed almost 200 people, destroyed thousands of homes and displaced 142,000 people, mostly Muslims. Burma's government does not recognize the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority as citizens and officials refer to them as "Bengalis" to suggest that they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The post Blaze Destroys 16 Homes at Site of Alleged Rohingya Killings appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Ooredoo, Telenor Finally Set to Get Burma Telecoms Licenses Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:08 AM PST  A couple uses a mobile phone to take pictures on a boat in Rangoon in September. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — Qatar's Ooredoo can begin rolling out a telecommunications network in Burma after its license is formally awarded this week, a senior government official said on Wednesday. Burma announced in June that Ooredoo and Norway's Telenor Group had won licenses after a hotly contested bidding process to develop networks in one of the world's least connected countries. A senior government official said the license would be granted to Ooredoo at a ceremony on Thursday in the capital, Naypyidaw, after being delayed by about a month while the government finished writing telecommunications regulations. "The significance of this signing is it will pave the way for them to go ahead with their operation," said the official, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak to media. Another government official who declined to be named said a signing ceremony with Telenor would take place on Feb. 3. Ooredoo declined comment on Wednesday. It told Reuters in October that once its license was awarded, it would begin rolling out a network to cover Burma's four biggest cities within six months and 97 percent of the population in five years. Telecommunications were tightly controlled under decades of military dictatorship, with the government monopolizing the sector and selling SIM cards for thousands of dollars when they were introduced a decade-and-a-half ago. As a result, Burma had the lowest mobile penetration rate in the world, with Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson saying in 2012 that less than 4 percent of the country's 60 million people were connected. Since 2011, a quasi-civilian government has implemented sweeping political and economic reforms and has made telecommunications a key part of its plan to jump-start the economy. The post Ooredoo, Telenor Finally Set to Get Burma Telecoms Licenses appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Is Naypyidaw Learning From Sri Lanka to End Civil War? Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:53 AM PST  Gen Baw Kyaw Heh, the KNLA's vice-chief-of-staff, speaks during an interview with The Irrawaddy at a KNLA Brigade 5 area in Papun District, Karen State. (Photo: Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy) The Karen National Union (KNU) signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in January 2012. Since then, there have been disagreements within the KNU leadership over the ceasefire and the peace process. Some leaders, described as "pragmatists," want to move quickly forward with the peace process, while others want to exercise caution. Lt-Gen Baw Kyaw Heh is vice commander-in-chief of the KNU's military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and is often described as "hardliner" as he advocates a slower approach due to his doubts over peace process. He is a former commander of the KNLA's Brigade 5. The Irrawaddy's senior reporter, Saw Yan Naing traveled to the KNLA Brigade 5 area and met Lt-Gen Baw Kyaw Heh to discuss the peace process. Question: What is your opinion on the peace process between the Burmese government and the ethnic armed groups so far? Answer: In my opinion it is time for the Burmese government to transition and develop the country like other developing nations. They have been criticized for their administration that has for a longtime made no progress. That's why they certainly have plans to reform, so that they are not criticized and pressured any longer. In a series of reforms, they will also try as much as they can to end the civil war and move forward to develop the country. But, they might have different way of thinking and approach to ending the war. They want the ethnic groups to get involved into a "game" that they have set up. So, if we don’t think carefully, we are at risk of falling into the trap they set, and we will miss the goal that we want. We have to make sure that we don’t miss our target when we agree a ceasefire with the government. We must lay down a systematic plan and implement it precisely, step by step. We know that they have their own plans; for example to what degree they will categorize us and how much they will give us what we want. If we don’t go straight toward the target we want, we will fall in the trap they set for us. Q: So what is the government's plan for the ethnic groups? What do you think the Burmese government has in mind? A: For example, we have to form parties and enter into Parliament in 2015. There must be one army in the country, and we are supposed to fight alongside the government against terrorists. So, we understand that we will be combined into one armed force under their [Tatmadaw] control. I think the military is trying to come up with a new tactic to end armed conflicts with the ethnic minorities. In this case, I think they want to copy Thailand. They want to turn the ethnic armies into border guard forces. They will give some reasonable opportunities to the ethnic minorities, like Thailand gives to hill tribe ethnic people who live in Thailand. If ethnic groups get those opportunities, there might be no war. So, the Burmese government thinks again about giving opportunities to ethnic minorities that they didn't give in the past. They will give us opportunities to disarm voluntarily. But, they will retain sovereignty. They won't give the Karen a mandate to govern Karen State. Q: Is there any positive change that has been emerging after the ceasefire between the government and the KNU? A: Positive and negative matters always come along. There are positive consequences after we reached a ceasefire. For example, fear and concerns about being attacked have been reducing among villagers. And people can speak and share information without fear. These are visible positive points. But, we don't see invisible negative elements that might be behind the positive ones. While they [government troops] cease firing at us, they have been trying to influence our communities and territories by means of social and political engagements. They spread their people in a friendly way among Karen communities and get themselves connected not only with civilians but also our soldiers. I see it as their tactic to expand their influence and control in our territories, but in a soft way. It seems the blood of some of our soldiers is getting cold, but among them [the government troops], it's not. They divide their duties and roles and implement it very systematically. The government and the army acts precisely in accordance with their roles. So, if we take the ceasefire as a "business deal," I think they won and we lost. Q: Aung Min is the key peace negotiator for the Burmese government. He leads the peace negotiation team on behalf of the government. What do you think of Aung Min and his words? A: I think he plays his role very well. He talks very cleverly. He speaks very lightly and makes promises very easily. To me, those who promise easily do not keep their word. So, the more flexibly he speaks, the more I doubt it. I don't trust those who are sweet talkers. When we talk about important and serious issues, we have to talk seriously. Only those who talk seriously are serious and sincere in their words. Q: Some say that KNLA Brigade 5 is stubborn. Others described its leaders as "hardliners." What are your comments on that? A: While other leaders are following plans that are set up by Aung Min or the Burmese government, I’m not following it. To me, I want to move very carefully and slowly to make things go according to our plan. I am cautious. So I am often against their plans, which I disagree with. They think that I don’t support the peace process and some even worry that I’m going to break it. For example, Charles Petrie [the head of Norway-backed Myanmar Peace Support Initiative, or MPSI] came to meet me and asked me not to destroy the peace process. He questioned me repeatedly, "You won't break the peace process, right?" He asked me three times. I told him that I won't destroy it. I want to do it in appropriate way to secure a lasting peace. Then he said he will write a letter to Aung Min to let him know that I told him I won't break the peace process. Q: MPSI pilot projects are often criticized by community-based organizations. What do you think about these activities in war-affected ethnic areas including the KNU territories? A: I didn't accept the pilot projects from early on because we have experienced that the government army strengthened its troops during ceasefires with us in the past. And I worry that the government will exploit the development projects and NGOs as tools to strengthen its control in our communities, like has happened in some other countries. Q: Which country and experiences you are talking about? A: In my knowledge, I will say the Tamil rebels and the Sri Lanka government. I understand that Norway also get involved in Sri Lanka's transition. The Tamil rebels lost their territory and bases after a ceasefire [in 2002] with the government as NGO projects, development, education, schools and health care operations came in into their areas. It is like a cold war. You turn off your weapons, but you strengthen your control through social developments. So, I'm worried that the conditions here will be like that. The situation of Tamil rebels might not be the same as the Karen and the Sri Lanka government might not like the Burmese government. But, the theory of defeating rebels is the same. Q: Burma is a multiethnic nation and has different armed groups. Apart from the government armed forces, there are more than a dozen ethnic armed groups. Burma's Constitution says that one country must have one national army. But, ethnic minorities want a "federal army." How Burma can fix its military structure? A: It will be difficult to structure all ethnic troops and the government army into one armed force because all ethnic minorities want to govern their states. There should be a state guard [made up of the ethnic armed groups] and a union army. We can cooperate with the government army. But, state guards must not be centralized by the union army. Q: We know that KNLA Brigade 5 has significant military strength. How do you get financial support to run your army? A: The KNU has economic, taxation and forest departments. Financial support for our needs comes from those departments. And for our survival, we give some permits to those who want to come and conduct small-scale mining in our areas. We also permit some small-scale logging. We rely on taxation. Q: In late 1980, ethnic minority armed groups formed the National Democratic Front (NDF). They vowed to fight and work together until they reach their common goal. But, some ethnic groups signed ceasefire agreements with the government in the 1990s individually. Now, they team up again and vow to come up with one voice in demanding their rights. Do you think it will work this time? A: None of us are perfect. We all have strengths and weaknesses. So, we shouldn't blame each other. I think when the Kachin went and signed ceasefire with the government in 1994, they might have had their own difficulties. But, overall, the cooperation and unity within ethnic groups right now is not encouraging enough to me. We have to work a lot to make it better. We have been meeting and talking again and again, time has passed year by year, but unity among us is up and down. That's why the Burmese government divided us into pieces. It is not that the Burmese government is so smart, but we ourselves also are not smart enough. The post Is Naypyidaw Learning From Sri Lanka to End Civil War? appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Japan Revises Teaching Manuals, Says Islands Its Territory Posted: 28 Jan 2014 10:53 PM PST  A Japanese Coast Guard vessel sails in front of Uotsuri island, one of the disputed islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea on Aug. 18, 2013. (Photo: Reuters / Ruairidh Villar) TOKYO — Japan said on Tuesday it was revising teaching manuals to make clear that two sets of remote islands at the center of disputes with China and South Korea are integral parts of its territory, prompting protests from an angry Seoul and Beijing. Japan's ties with the two countries are increasingly strained over a host of issues, including the territorial rows and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit late last year to the Yasukuni Shrine, where convicted war criminals are honored along with millions of war dead. The conservative Abe has said he wants to revise Japanese history to have a less apologetic tone, a sensitive topic for Asian neighbors such as South Korea and China, where memories linger of Japanese aggression before and during World War II. Education Minister Hakubun Shimomura said the ministry was revising the manuals to teach "properly" about Japanese history and that it would make diplomatic efforts to explain the move to Japan's neighbors. "It is extremely important that the children who will bear our future can properly understand our territory," he told a news conference. He said the teaching manuals would be changed to make clear that the rocky islets controlled by South Korea but claimed by both nations, known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea, were Japanese territory. South Korea's Foreign Ministry promptly summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest. Earlier, the Ministry urged Japan to repeal the changes, which it said were teaching children a false claim to the islets. "Our government strongly condemns this and asks Japan to immediately withdraw it," it said in a statement. The manuals will also add reference to the Senkakus, at the center of a dispute with China, which calls them the Diaoyus, and reiterate Tokyo's stance that these are an integral part of Japanese territory and there is no dispute over their ownership. China has also lodged a protest, saying the islands have always been Chinese, said Hua Chunying, spokeswoman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. "We once more urge Japan to respect historic realities, stop provocations and teach the younger generation a correct historical perspective," she told a daily news briefing. Japan's changes will affect classes in history, geography and civics in junior and senior high schools, but are not legally binding. Asked about the territorial rows, Shimomura said he felt it was too bad that there were competing claims to the islands and repeated that historically, the islands were part of Japan. "We must make efforts to politely explain our position to both nations and seek their understanding," Shimomura said. The announcement came just days after the head of Japan's public broadcaster triggered a furor in Asia with comments on military brothels during World War II. On Monday he expressed regret, terming his remarks as "extremely inappropriate." Both China and Korea suffered under Japanese rule, with parts of China occupied in the 1930s and Korea colonized from 1910 to 1945. Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in SEOUL and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING. The post Japan Revises Teaching Manuals, Says Islands Its Territory appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Health Help on Its Way to the People of Myanmar? Posted: 28 Jan 2014 10:21 PM PST This week, the World Bank announced a US$2 billion pledge to Myanmar (Burma) to improve access to energy and health care. As a health worker, I am particularly excited about the $200 million pledge to help Myanmar achieve universal health coverage by 2030. If used strategically, $200 million can fill major gaps in access to quality health services for the majority of the people, especially those in states and regions with limited infrastructure. Just a few days before this announcement, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim laid out his vision for universal health coverage at a conference in Washington, DC. Five fundamental lessons he shared on universal health care from 27 case studies will be very useful in developing a practical strategy to improve access to quality health care in Myanmar. While commending the World Bank for taking this important step to provide an opportunity to improve two essential areas in Myanmar, I would like to share my thoughts and reflections on strengthening the health system in Myanmar as a member of the diaspora with deep roots there. Health service delivery must include preventive, promotive and rehabilitative services in addition to treatment and care services. For example, access to quality care must not be limited to neurological and orthopedic services for patients who suffer road traffic injuries, but must address how to prevent road traffic injuries (e.g., vehicle safety, road construction, alcohol and drug intoxication among drivers, seat belt use) as well as rehabilitative services for those who are injured. The Myanmar Consumer Network, formed in December 2013, is trying to address food safety for consumers in collaboration with consumer activists, food industry entrepreneurs, technical experts and government agencies, as a part of efforts to promote health and prevent diseases. Safe water supply, proper sanitation, environmental protection, and appropriate regulation of tobacco, narcotics and alcohol use should be helpful actions for better health services in Myanmar. Access to quality health services must not be limited to the people in big cities and resource-rich divisions and regions but to the majority of people in all states and regions, in both rural and urban areas. Existing local, community-supported health service centers (for example, the Mudon Free Clinic in Mon State) must be taken into consideration as a part of efforts to improve health service delivery in the country. The health care workforce must be developed and supported based on the needs of the country. As Jim Yong Kim mentioned in one of his fundamental lessons, it is essential to strengthen community and mid-level professionals that constitute the backbone of primary health care services, not just highly skilled professionals. The health workforce is made up of doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, paramedics, administrators and others from governmental, multi-lateral institutions, INGOs, NNGOs and foundations. Myanmar's medical education system is based on the British model, similar to other countries once colonized by Britain such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and many African countries including South Africa. Lessons learned from those countries in improving their health workforce through strengthening medical education and training programs will be very useful for Myanmar. Some African countries have been strengthening their medical education systems to improve quality, quantity and retention of health workers in Africa through support from the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). African leadership is the main driver of the program, with collaboration from US universities. Myanmar can incorporate effective strategies and lessons learned from African partners in its plan to strengthen the health workforce. The Department for International Development (DFID) from the United Kingdom and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) can also be partners and co-funders in improving the health workforce in Myanmar. Japan has been a major supporter in providing advanced education and technical training for university faculty and health officials from Myanmar over the last few decades. Strengthening collaboration with Japan on technical and infrastructure enhancement for the health workforce will be an important strategy for Myanmar. The participation and ownership of communities and civil society in strengthening health systems is one of the most important approaches to improve health services in a country. Jim Yong Kim's example of the role of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP), an international direct action advocacy group, in revolutionizing HIV/AIDS prevention and care services including discovery and distribution of HIV/AIDS medications globally is one of the best examples that empowered civil societies and communities can and will make a difference in health and development of a country. Myanmar has many civil society and community groups that are capable and willing to participate and guide the country's future in health and development. It will be important for them to have necessary support and independence for them to articulate perspectives and desires from their communities effectively to the government and decision makers without fear of retaliation, suppression or loss of funding. Health information systems have to be strengthened for health workers, patients, administrators and policy makers in Myanmar. Information related to health must be accurate, current, relevant, and understandable. Myanmar also needs to strengthen its health legislation to improve all aspects of health protection and promotion, disease prevention and delivery of health care. Medical products, vaccines and technology are essential parts of any health system. Domestic and international pharmaceutical companies play a major role in Myanmar's health care services. Affordable quality medicine and health products, including diagnostic products, are much needed in Myanmar for the majority of the people. While trying to meet the demand for quality medicine and health products from private companies, the country will need to strengthen its own industry for affordable and quality products with help from other partners. Thailand, South Africa and Brazil could share their experience and lessons learned in producing generic medicines for people living with HIV/AIDS under major challenges. The newly established Food and Drug Administration in Myanmar needs support in establishing an independent and skilled regulatory workforce to register safe, quality and effective medical products and to monitor products on the market. Historically in Myanmar, health financing has not been restricted to the government's health budget. Most of the health care spending in Myanmar has been out of pocket spending. The people of Myanmar are very generous in donating to good causes. There are many private foundations and groups such as the Sitagu Sayadaw's foundation, Free Funeral Services Society and the Muslim Free Hospital, which provide free medical and social services for those in need with a substantial amount of funds from private donations. Donor coordination is one of the most important fundamentals in development assistance to emerging countries. The need to coordinate donor assistance appears frequently as a recommendation in donor reports; however, true and comprehensive donor coordination is rare. Rwanda recently demonstrated that effective donor coordination under a country-led approach can yield impressive results in improving health services. Effective implementation of a practical donor coordination strategy in Myanmar among several international partners/implementers is important in improving universal health coverage in Myanmar. Myanmar has seen increasing number of partners/donors in the last few years. For example, the European Union announced €150 million (US$205 million) in new assistance for 2012 and 2013, including the areas of health and education. Other European and Scandinavian countries, Asian partners, the United States, Israel and Australia are on the list of donors in Myanmar. Many of them have health as a main area of focus in their donor profile. It will be important for Myanmar and the donors to work together to enhance complementary approaches among donors. Leadership/governance has always been a key cornerstone in improving health services. Leadership and governance is not just for the Ministry of Health or governmental agencies. Strong and effective leadership and governance applies to every organization and community including international and multilateral agencies such as the World Bank. One of Jim Yong Kim's fundamental lessons was that "strong national political leadership and long-term commitment are required to achieve and sustain universal health coverage." Myanmar has been going through a major transition recently in political leadership and governance in recent years. Despite optimistic expectations from the international community and the people in Myanmar, nobody knows the outcomes and consequences of the upcoming 2015 general election. The holders of the executive, legislative and judicial bodies will set the course of leadership and governance in Myanmar, and in turn will have a major impact on access to quality health services for the people of Myanmar. Access to quality health services will be a major determinant for the economic and social development of the country. Therefore, it is essential for future governments of Myanmar to make access to quality health services for everyone in Myanmar their top priority. There is an emphasis on "science of delivery" that refers to the focused study of the processes, contexts and general determinants of the delivery of public services and goods. It can be simplified as "how to deliver" but not "what to deliver." Jim Yong Kim mentioned it as essential global knowledge needed to solve local problems. How is the World Bank planning to incorporate and rely on experience and lessons learned from the people and health workers of Myanmar who have local "know-how," experience and ideas to solve the problems, while also trying to bring in technical expertise from the international community? Jim Yong Kim mentioned that Thailand successfully improved rural health services through providing incentives to attract and retain doctors in remote areas despite the loud objection of the World Bank Group. We hope that the universal health care approach in Myanmar will not fail in 2030 because Myanmar follows the World Bank's advice. Instead, we would like to hear that Myanmar successfully implements and sustains universal health care for the whole country while maintaining full ownership of the country, in collaboration with different regional and global partners including the World Bank. The people of Myanmar have articulated that they want assistance that will help them to help themselves. They are smart, brave, proud and practical. Although they know that they need to learn from others to catch up, and to become a contributing member of the global community, they are ready and willing to bring their experience, skills and know-how to make it work in their own communities. Let's hope that the World Bank's pledge will contribute effectively in improving access to quality health care for everyone in Myanmar. Let's hope that this journey will lead to a mutually beneficial experience for communities, health workers, governmental and international agencies, and everyone involved in the process—and especially for the people of Myanmar. Myat Htoo Razak participated in the 1988 pro-democracy movement in Burma as a young medical doctor. He left Burma in 1989 and received training in health policy, epidemiology, and HIV/AIDS research and implementation in the United States. He has worked in Asia and Africa on HIV/AIDS research and program implementation as well as health systems strengthening and capacity building of health workers. He now lives and works in the United States on global health research capacity building and health systems strengthening. This article is his own opinion and does not represent any organization he has associated with. The post Health Help on Its Way to the People of Myanmar? appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Conflict, Disaster to Gallop in With New Chinese Year of the Horse, Say Feng Shui Masters Posted: 28 Jan 2014 10:12 PM PST  A giant lantern depicting a horse is seen among Chinese New Year decorations at Yuyuan Garden, in downtown Shanghai, Jan. 25, 2014. (Photo: Reuters) HONG KONG — The coming Chinese Year of the Horse may bring conflicts and disasters related to fire but strong gains in stocks linked to wood, the year's two dominant elements, say Hong Kong's practitioners of the ancient art of feng shui. Believers in the Chinese form of geomancy see the universe as made up of five elements—earth, water, fire, wood and metal—that define the mood and direction of the world. The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals that interact with the elements. The Year of the Horse, the lunar new year that starts on Jan. 31, contains a great deal of fire, bringing energy, and also wood, fueling the flames, and making them stronger. "The upcoming Horse year is also a 'yang wood' year, when people will stick more to their principles and stand firm," said Raymond Lo, a practitioner for more than 20 years who has students all over the world. "So it is hard to negotiate or compromise as there are more tendencies for people to fight for their ideals." The combination of a Horse year and a "yang wood" year, which comes round every 60 years, has a record of regional warfare. The last such year was 1954, which witnessed the Battle of Dien Bien Phu that ended with the defeat of France by the Vietnamese. The previous such year was 1894, which marked the start of the first Sino-Japanese war. Alion Yeo, another Hong Kong feng shui practitioner, predicted extra turbulence in February, May and August. "The biggest concern is the disagreement between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands," said Yeo about the disputed islands in the East China Sea known as the Senkaku in Japan. Too Much Fire But the good news is that the fire element will drive market sentiment, implying strong performance by stocks. While the feng shui experts said they expected gains to be limited, brokerage CLSA was bullish in its light-hearted annual outlook based on feng shui, saying Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index should rise to 28,105 points in the Horse Year. The Chinese territory's benchmark stock index closed at 21,960 on Tuesday. "Wood-related sectors will flourish, including culture, education, agriculture, lumber and media," said another feng shui practitioner, Lai Hon-fai. "Property won't do well as it is associated with earth, which is conquered by wood, so Hong Kong's housing prices will be adjusted downward slowly this year." Too much fire portends disasters such as volcanic eruptions, explosions and power outages during summer, warned Yeo. The risk of a new wave of bird flu persists, Lo said, and officials in China should be on their guard because the coming year will be full of sex scandals. But it will be a tough year for people born under the sign of the Horse, Lo said. Leaders born in the Horse year of 1954 include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. British Prime Minister David Cameron is a younger Horse, born in 1966. Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying is also a Horse. On the other hand, Lai said the year would be favorable for women and the places they govern. "For Brazil, the World Cup will definitely spur its economy," Lai said. The post Conflict, Disaster to Gallop in With New Chinese Year of the Horse, Say Feng Shui Masters appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Arsenal Held at Saints, Liverpool Thrash Everton Posted: 28 Jan 2014 10:00 PM PST  Arsenal's Olivier Giroud (R) fouls Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin during their English Premier League football match at St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England, Jan. 28, 2014. (Photo: Reuters) LONDON — Arsenal's wings were clipped in a 2-2 draw at Southampton as they missed a chance to soar four points clear in the Premier League title race while Liverpool thrashed Everton and Manchester United beat Cardiff on Tuesday. With Manchester City and Chelsea playing on Wednesday, Arsenal could have stolen a march on their rivals but, like their team bus that was late arriving after getting stuck in traffic, they struggled to move out of second gear. Arsene Wenger's side started slowly and were caught out by Jose Fonte's early goal and Adam Lallana's second-half equalizer either side of strikes from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla. There was no sluggishness about Liverpool, whose 15-year home hoodoo over rivals Everton continued with Daniel Sturridge scoring twice in a 4-0 win, while Dutchman Robin van Persie came back with a bang as Manchester United eased past Cardiff 2-0. Arsenal, who had Mathieu Flamini sent off 10 minutes from time, are two points ahead of Manchester City and three above Chelsea but could drop to third if their rivals win on Wednesday at Tottenham Hotspur and home to West Ham United respectively. "They have difficult games as well and we took at least a point," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. "It's not enough but, considering the situation at halftime [when Arsenal were losing 1-0], we have to be content with it." Fourth-placed Liverpool revived their own faint title hopes with their biggest win over Everton since 1982 and now sit six points behind Arsenal, and four ahead of their Merseyside rivals, while United stay seventh a further six points adrift. It is not often Arsenal find themselves chasing possession, but Southampton gave the leaders the run-around in the first half and deservedly took the lead after 21 minutes. Luke Shaw curled in a delightful cross from the left wing to pick out Fonte at the far post and he headed home. Visitors Rally Wenger's halftime team talk rallied his side and they were swiftly level after the restart with Giroud backheeling past Artur Boruc after turning on a Bacary Sagna cross before Cazorla buried a low shot to put them ahead four minutes later. But they could not close the game out and Lallana turned in a Jay Rodriguez cross to level before French midfielder Flamini was given his marching orders for a rash challenge. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard powered in a 21st minute header to open the scoring at Anfield but it was Sturridge who took the game away from their Merseyside rivals, showcasing his finishing talents before Luis Suarez completed the rout. Sturridge struck twice in two minutes past the half-hour just as Everton seemed to be gaining a foothold in the match, yet both his goals would have left Everton manager Roberto Martinez scratching his head at his side's shoddy defending. Midfielder Philippe Coutinho sent Sturridge racing through unchecked to fire left-footed past Tim Howard for his first goal while the England forward's second came from a hopeful long ball. Sturridge looked disorientated when Kolo Toure's punt upfield found its way through to him as Everton pushed up for offside, but he regained his bearings to swivel and lob a smart finish past the advancing Howard and into the net. He blotted his copy book somewhat by scooping a penalty over the bar in the second half after Suarez had run half the length of the pitch and calmly finished to make it 4-0, taking his league tally to 23 for the season to equal last term's total. After Liverpool had been overrun for periods of their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in their last home game with Suarez and Sturridge together up front, manager Brendan Rodgers admitted it was uncertain whether he would repeat the experiment. Striker Gamble "It was a gamble to go with two strikers but that's the reason we took the risk. We got four goals and could have had six or seven. It was a brilliant demonstration of how to play under pressure," he said. With record signing Juan Mata making his debut for Manchester United after joining from Chelsea last week, the champions enjoyed a double boost as Van Persie made his first appearance since Dec. 10 after injury. He marked the occasion with the first goal before Ashley Young wrapped up the points to leave Cardiff bottom after a painful, if warmly applauded, return to Old Trafford for City's new manager and former United forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Mata had a part to play in United's opener, giving the home fans a taste of his playmaking abilities with a raking crossfield ball to start the move from which Van Persie found the net at the second attempt with a close-range header. Perhaps inspired by Mata's arrival, Young found some of his old form to cut in from the left, beat two men and rifle home from distance. Mid-table Swansea City won 2-0 at home to lowly Fulham to record their first league victory since Dec. 4, while Norwich City and Newcastle United drew 0-0 at Carrow Road with City's Bradley Johnson and United's Loic Remy sent off after a clash. Crystal Palace moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win at home to Hull City. The post Arsenal Held at Saints, Liverpool Thrash Everton appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
| Fighting Erupts in Philippines as Final Peace Deal Nears Posted: 28 Jan 2014 09:44 PM PST  A government soldier takes a position with a machinegun during fighting with Muslim rebels from the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga city in September 2013. (Photo: Reuters) MANILA — Philippine troops have killed about 17 members of a Muslim rebel faction, officials said, underscoring volatility in the resource-rich south as the government and the main rebel group enter the final, delicate stage of a peace process. The government and the main Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reached a milestone in a 13-year peace process on the weekend, signing the fourth and final annex of a peace roadmap set out in 2012. But the rebels, who have been fighting for autonomy in the Muslim-majority south for decades, have to give up their weapons in the final stage and that could lead to resistance and possibly violence from some of them, analysts say. The latest violence flared in Maguindanao province on Monday when the military tried to serve arrest warrants against members of a splinter faction known as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) for kidnapping and killings. Government forces were surrounding the rebels and skirmishing with them on Tuesday as they attempted to flee, an army spokesman said on Tuesday. "We have enough troops to be able to handle the estimated 300 BIFF forces," said Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, the army’s chief spokesman. Troops had recovered the bodies of two rebels and officials said information from village officials and army personnel on the ground indicated 15 more rebels had been killed. The fighting was unlikely to derail the peace process with the MILF but it could slow it down, one analyst said, and it raised the prospect of more skirmishes over opposition to the decommissioning of rebel weapons. "The pace of the process would be probably affected," Julkipli Wadi, dean of the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Islamic Studies, said in a television interview. "We can expect possible encounters, skirmishes and eventual refusal of other groups, they are not willing to lay down their arms, that could complicate things," he said. In September, members of another Muslim rebel faction who felt disadvantaged by the peace pact stormed into Zamboanga City, battling security forces for weeks after taking civilians hostage. About 200 people were killed. The agreement on Saturday forged in Malaysia, which has been brokering talks since 2001, cleared the last hurdle to a pact to end more than 40 years of conflict that has killed 120,000 people, displaced about two million and stunted growth in a region rich in minerals and other natural resources. The annexes of the peace pact will serve as the basis for legislation creating the Bangsamoro Basic Law that will formally set up a new regional government. The post Fighting Erupts in Philippines as Final Peace Deal Nears appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine. |
